Last week, the Oxford Village Council approved two new stop signs at the intersection for Dennison St. and Jersey St., and two no-parking signs on Dennison east of Pontiac St. — but not without commentary.
Commuters use Dennison St., between West St. and Pontiac St. to cut-through to W. Burdick St. or Washington St. (M-24). Residents have complained of speeders and traffic volume. “The Oxford Police Department attempts to enforce this issue on a daily basis but can’t be there all hours of the day,” wrote Police Chief Michael Solwold in a Jan. 6 letter to the village council. The department recommended adding stop signs for eastbound and westbound traffic at the “T” intersection of Dennison and Jersey to breakup and slow down the traffic. Jersey is halfway between West and Pontiac. A stop sign already exists for northbound traffic on Jersey.
At the meeting, Solwold said the issue of people cutting through will get worse with M-24 construction this year, but this has been an issue even without the construction.
Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth, who was the lone ‘no’ vote on council, was concerned there would be new stop sign requests every meeting during construction and asked to consider everything that could be affected by the construction all at once.
“They have (cut through before), but this is happening because of the project,” Helmuth said. “If I can’t get on M-24, I go down Burdick, I go to West and I go to Dennison. Don’t shake your head no at me, I do it every day.”
“Ask the folks on Dennison Street,” Solwold retorted.
“Oh, I know they’ve had problems,” Helmuth said, “but this is worse because of the construction. I think we need to look at all of it.”
Last year, the council approved six new stop signs in the vicinity, along Pontiac.
“Those stop signs on Pontiac Street are fine for now,” Helmuth continued, “but after this construction project, we don’t need to be stopping every 50 feet.”
“The chief and his analysis suggests that this is a need regardless of the project,” said Village President Joe Frost. “I’m in favor of all the stop signs we can put in if they’re at the recommendation of our public safety officers.”
Solwold also recommended two no-parking signs on Dennison east of Pontiac because cars have been parking too close to the intersection. He clarified his intent was not to put no-parking signs at every intersection in the village, just the locations with the biggest issues.
The council voted 3-1 in favor of the signs, with Helmuth voting opposed.
The stop signs will cost $100 apiece and the parking signs will cost $80 apiece. They will cost the village $360 total.